Generally discussed herein are systems and apparatuses for managing a plurality of location providers and/or assigning a location provider to provide a location estimate. Also discussed herein are methods of using the systems and apparatuses. According to an example a method may include receiving a location estimate request from one or more location clients, determining, using a power cost heuristic, a power cost of using each of a plurality of location providers in performing a location estimate in accord with the location estimate request, assigning the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers associated with a lowest determined power cost, and/or providing the location estimate to the location client.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A mobile device comprising processing circuitry to: receive a location estimate request from one or more location clients; receive one or more performance parameters from the one or more location clients, the performance parameters comprising at least one of a maximum power, a maximum time, and a maximum error to be used in determining the location estimate of the device; receive from each of a plurality of location providers a list of available operational states, each operational state including one or more of a plurality of characteristics including whether a location estimate is available upon request, a maximum time it takes to complete a location estimate, whether a periodic location estimate is available, a time period the periodic location estimate is available, a best case expected error in the location estimate, a worst case expected error in the location estimate, an energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, an energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and an energy consumption per location estimate; determine, using a power cost heuristic, a power cost of using each of the plurality of location providers in performing a location estimate in response to the location estimate request; assign the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers associated with a lowest determined power cost; and provide the location estimate to the one or more location clients that issued the location estimate request.
A mobile device receives a location estimate request from an application. It also receives performance parameters from the application such as maximum power consumption, time, or error allowed for the location estimate. The device receives information about different location providers (like GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular), including their operational states such as whether they provide location on request, the maximum time for an estimate, whether periodic updates are available, accuracy, and energy consumption. The device then uses a power cost heuristic to determine the cost of each provider, assigns the request to the provider with the lowest cost, and sends the location estimate back to the requesting application.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further to assign the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers by comparing the one or more performance parameters to a characteristic of the plurality of characteristics and assigning the request to the location provider that includes a characteristic that best matches the performance parameter with the lowest determined power cost.
The mobile device, which receives a location estimate request, performance parameters, and location provider information, assigns the location request by comparing the performance parameters (e.g., maximum time) to the characteristics of each location provider (e.g., maximum time for location estimate). The provider whose characteristics best match the requested parameters, and has the lowest calculated power cost, is selected to fulfill the request. The power cost calculation helps optimize for battery life while meeting application requirements.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the power cost heuristic includes the energy consumption per location estimate divided by a lowest common denominator of the time periods of periodic requests assigned to the location provider of the plurality of location providers.
The mobile device, which picks a location provider based on minimum power cost, uses a power cost heuristic calculated as the energy consumption per location estimate divided by a lowest common denominator of the time periods of periodic requests assigned to that location provider. This means that providers handling frequent, periodic requests are favored due to amortized energy costs. The lowest common denominator calculation accounts for energy efficiency in supporting multiple periodic requests.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the power cost heuristic includes a sum of the energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, the energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and the energy consumption per location estimate.
The mobile device, which picks a location provider based on minimum power cost, uses a power cost heuristic calculated as the sum of: the energy consumption per unit time during the location estimate, the energy consumed transitioning into the operational state, and the energy consumed per location estimate. This combines ongoing power draw, startup costs, and the cost of obtaining each location fix into a single cost value for comparison.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of location providers include a Wi-Fi location provider, a satellite location provider, and a cellular location provider.
The mobile device, which picks a location provider based on minimum power cost, has location providers that include Wi-Fi, satellite (GPS), and cellular. The selection logic considers the cost and performance characteristics of each of these different types of location providers when fulfilling a location estimate request, favoring whichever is most efficient based on the current conditions and application requirements.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of location providers determine the location estimate using a Time of Flight (ToF) of a signal from the device to the location provider and back to the device, triangulation and a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) technique.
The mobile device, using Wi-Fi, satellite, and cellular location providers, determines the location estimate using Time of Flight (ToF) which measures the time for a signal to travel to the location provider and back, triangulation which uses angles to multiple known points to find a device's location, and Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) which estimates distance based on the strength of the received signal. These techniques are used by the different location providers to determine position.
7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is to assign the received location estimate request to a different location provider only if the different location provider provides the location estimate with a lower determined power cost, a lower maximum time it takes to complete a location estimate as detailed in the list of operational states, or a lower worst case expected error in the location estimate as detailed in the list of operational states than is provided by a location provider of the plurality of location providers currently assigned to perform the location estimate.
The mobile device, after assigning a location provider, re-evaluates that assignment and only switches to a different provider if the new provider offers a lower power cost, a faster maximum time to complete the location estimate, or a lower worst-case expected error, according to their advertised operational states. This ensures the device dynamically picks the best location provider to meet performance goals.
8. A method of performing a location estimate comprising operations performed by one or more hardware processor, the operations comprising: receiving a location estimate request from one or more location clients; receiving one or more performance parameters associated with the location estimate request, the performance parameters comprising at least one of a maximum power, a maximum time, and a maximum error to be used in satisfying the location estimate request; receiving from each of a plurality of location providers a list of available operational states, each operational state including one or more of a plurality of characteristics including whether a location estimate is available upon request, a maximum time it takes to complete a location estimate, whether a periodic location estimate is available, a time period the periodic location estimate is available, a best case expected error in the location estimate, a worst case expected error in the location estimate, an energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, an energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and an energy consumption per location estimate; determining, using a power cost heuristic, a power cost of using each of the plurality of location providers in performing a location estimate in accord with the location estimate request; assigning the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers associated with a lowest determined power cost; and providing the location estimate to the location client.
A method, performed by one or more hardware processors, receives a location estimate request from an application. The method receives performance parameters (max power, time, error) associated with the request. The method also receives operational state information (availability, time, error, energy consumption) from different location providers. Using a power cost heuristic, the method determines the cost of using each provider to fulfill the request. The request is then assigned to the provider with the lowest determined power cost, and the location estimate is provided to the application.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein assigning the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers includes comparing the one or more performance parameters to a characteristic of the plurality of characteristics and assigning the request to the location provider that includes a characteristic that best matches the performance parameter with the lowest determined power cost.
The location estimation method assigns a location estimate request to a provider by comparing the performance parameters (maximum time, error, power) against the provider's operational characteristics. The method selects the provider whose characteristics best match the request's parameters, while also considering and optimizing for the lowest power cost. This allows for an efficient and accurate selection.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power cost heuristic includes the energy consumption per location estimate divided by a lowest common denominator of the time periods of periodic requests assigned to the location provider of the plurality of location providers.
In the location estimation method, the power cost heuristic is calculated as the energy consumption per location estimate divided by the lowest common denominator of the time periods of any periodic requests that have already been assigned to a provider. This encourages the device to reuse location providers when possible, especially if the provider is already providing location data on a periodic basis, which reduces power consumption.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power cost heuristic includes a sum of the energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, the energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and the energy consumption per location estimate.
In the location estimation method, the power cost heuristic is the sum of three components: the energy consumed per unit of time performing the location estimate, the energy consumed transitioning into the operational state, and the energy consumed per location estimate. These components are added to determine a combined power cost, allowing the device to consider the energy efficiency of each location provider.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising assigning the received location estimate request to a different location provider of the plurality of location providers only if the different location provider provides the location estimate with a lower determined power cost, a lower maximum time it takes to complete a location estimate as detailed in the list of operational states, or a lower worst case expected error in the location estimate as detailed in the list of operational states than is provided by a location provider of the plurality of location providers currently assigned to perform the location estimate.
The location estimation method reassigns a location request to a different provider *only* if that different provider can provide the location estimate with a lower power cost, a shorter maximum time to complete the estimate, or a lower worst-case expected error. This reassignment ensures that the device is always using the best available location provider, based on up-to-date information about provider performance and energy consumption.
13. At least one machine-readable medium comprising instructions, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to: receive a location estimate request from one or more location clients; receive one or more performance parameters associated with the location estimate request, the performance parameters comprising at least one of a maximum power, a maximum time, and a maximum error to be used in satisfying the location estimate request; receive from each of the plurality of location providers a list of available operational states, each operational state including one or more of a plurality of characteristics including whether a location estimate is available upon request, a maximum time it takes to complete a location estimate, whether a periodic location estimate is available, a time period the periodic location estimate is available, a best case expected error in the location estimate, a worst case expected error in the location estimate, an energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, an energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and an energy consumption per location estimate; determine, using a power cost heuristic, a power cost of using each of a plurality of location providers in performing a location estimate in accord with the location estimate request; assign the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers associated with a lowest determined power cost; and provide the location estimate to the location client.
A computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a device to receive a location estimate request from an application, and performance parameters (max power, time, error) associated with the request. The instructions also cause the device to receive operational state information (availability, time, error, energy consumption) from various location providers. Using a power cost heuristic, the instructions determine the cost of using each provider. The request is then assigned to the provider with the lowest cost, and the location estimate is sent to the application.
14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions for assigning the location estimate request to a location provider of the plurality of location providers include instructions, when performed by the machine, cause the machine to compare the one or more performance parameters to a characteristic of the plurality of characteristics and assigning the request to the location provider that includes a characteristic that best matches the performance parameter with the lowest determined power cost, wherein the power cost heuristic includes the energy consumption per location estimate divided by a lowest common denominator of the time periods of periodic requests assigned to the location provider of the plurality of location providers or a sum of the energy consumption per unit time in performing the location estimate, the energy consumption per transition into the operational state, and the energy consumption per location estimate.
The computer-readable medium, which assigns a location estimate request, does so by comparing the performance parameters (maximum time, error, power) against the provider's characteristics. The provider whose characteristics best match is selected, optimizing for the lowest power cost. The power cost calculation involves either: dividing the energy consumption per location estimate by a lowest common denominator of the time periods of periodic requests, or summing the energy consumption per unit time, the energy per state transition, and the energy per location estimate.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 19, 2014
May 9, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.